8.8 magnitude earthquake off Japanese Coast

[cholla]

((((Midori and all Japan))))

[cholla]

Huge fires in an oil refinery and a nuclear powerplant now

Tsunami alarms are on in Hawaii, wave is approx. 30/45 mn ahead.

[paskatefan]

My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Japan, and in all the affected (and potentially affected) areas.

[reckless]

It's terrifying to look at the aftershocks on the USGS page. There have been 13 aftershocks so far that are above a magnitude 6.0 and one was 7.1. For comparison sake, the Northridge earthquake in 1994 was a 6.8.

Some friends of mine who live on the California coast have been told to evacuate.

[allezfred]

I was in the vicinity of the Great Hanshin earthquake in 1995 when it struck. That was a 7.3. I can't imagine 8.8.

This is the biggest earthquake to hit Japan in 140 years...

[gingercrush]

It's terrifying to look at the aftershocks on the USGS page. There have been 13 aftershocks so far that are above a magnitude 6.0 and one was 7.1. For comparison sake, the Northridge earthquake in 1994 was a 6.8.

Some friends of mine who live on the California coast have been told to evacuate.

Wow those aftershocks are huge. To be honest I still duck under a table when we get 3.something aftershocks. But to experience so many of those must be terrible and surely they must be triggering their own tsunamis.

We have a coastal warning for parts of NZ. Its really only if you're actually at the beach etc. But looks like we'll be safe. Biggest danger for NZ is if Chile has an earthquake.

[Flatfoote]

Thank you for checking in Midori.

How terrifying! Almost exactly a year ago today, my neice was in Japan studying abroad. She was in Beppu, Oita Prefecture, at Asian Pacific University. I think that's considerably south of all this activity though. I hope all her friends there are safe.

[allezfred]

How terrifying! Almost exactly a year ago today, my neice was in Japan studying abroad. She was in Beppu, Oita Prefecture, at Asian Pacific University. I think that's considerably south of all this activity though. I hope all her friends there are safe.

Beppu should be absolutely fine and I'm sure your nieces friends are safe.

[midori]

Thanks but do not hug me, cause I am just fine...

(((people who's suffering)))


I am scared to know what's really happening up there.... perhaps in the next morning.

[John 3 17]

My prayers and my heart are with Japan :

-Bridget

[skipaway]

I am so sorry for the people of Japan. These are some of the most devesatating pictures I've ever seen. My prayers go out to all in the path of harm.

[Angelskates]

Midori, I'm glad you're safe. I have some friends in Tokyo who are staying at the office for lack of transport, they said there's been a big gas explosion

((((((people of Japan)))))))

[Flatfoote]

Beppu should be absolutely fine and I'm sure your nieces friends are safe.

Thank you for that. I know she's going to be very upset when she wakes up and hears of this. She really loves Japan.

[allezfred]

You can see which areas of Japan are affected by tsunami on this map:

http://disaster.yahoo.co.jp/12998410...ami/index.html

Red are worst affected areas with some waves over 10m in some cases.

The following shows the strength of the latest aftershocks:

http://typhoon.yahoo.co.jp/weather/jp/earthquake/

[Lara]

There are no words. Just horrible. And OMG just saw the video with cars being swept away.

Smaller earthquake (4.x) already reported in Hawaii per CBC Newsworld.

32 people now reported dead.

[allezfred]

According to Mainich Shimbun, 39 now confirmed dead, many more missing.

[midori]

You can see which areas of Japan are affected by tsunami on this map:

http://disaster.yahoo.co.jp/12998410...ami/index.html

Red are worst affected areas with some waves over 10m in some cases.

The map only shows the warnings and Tsunami warnings rarely tell the real waves... which is one of the big reasons people tend to ignore the warnings

[allezfred]

The map only shows the warnings and Tsunami warnings rarely tell the real waves... which is one of the big reasons people tend to ignore the warnings

I really hope as many people as possible did take heed of the warnings and evacuated to safe places.

[allezfred]

This is the fifth largest earthquake recorded worldwide and the biggest on record in Japan.

[gingercrush]

Do those areas attract many tourists?